Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/25

 and comfort  may  you  not  expect  to  receive  from  such  a brother!

II. Reflect on  your  cruel  conduct  towards  your  brother; for you  have  sold  him  not  for  twenty  pieces  of  silver,  as did  the  sons  of  Jacob  their  brother  Joseph,  but  perhaps for some  transient  or  degrading  passion. Like another, and a  more  guilty  Cain,  you  have  murdered  this  innocent brother  Abel  of  yours,  by  your  sins,  and  nailed  Him to a  cross. Yet He  has  forgiven  you,  and  now  invites you to  Himself,  saying  with  Joseph,  "  I  am  Joseph,  your brother;  be  not  afraid;  come  to  me  and  I  will  give  you  all the  good  things  of  Egypt,  that  you  may  eat  the  marrow of  the  land." (Gen. xlv.  4.)  And  what  is  this  marrow of the  land,  but  His  own  most  precious  body  and  blood, " the  corn  of  the  chosen  ones,  and  wine  which  maketh virgins  spring  forth." (Zach. ix.  17.)

III. How ought  you  to  meet  this  divine  brother  of yours? Imitate Jacob,  who  went  with  great  presents  to meet  his  angry  brother  Esau. (Gen. xxxiii.  10.)  Let your presents  be  first  "  a  contrite  and  humble  heart," (Ps, 1.  19),  which  He  will  never  despise. Secondly, a  firm determination of  never  sinning  again  "against  your brother." (Gen. xlii.  21.)  Thirdly,  a  desire  of  imitating His virtues,  in  order  that,  by  rendering  your  life  and conduct like  His,  He  may  appear  to  be  what  He  really  is, " the  first-born  among  many  brethren." (Rom. viii.  29.)

"The Master  is  come  and  calleth  for  thee." (John xi.  2S.)

I. How  ignorant  mankind  generally  are  in  heavenly things, and  in  the  great  affair  of  salvation! We often "call evil  good,  and  good  evil;"  we  "  put  darkness  for